Compact, mobile, modular, integrated diffuser apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A new diffuser for essential oils and the like is rendered more compact by integrating the entire diffuser into a form of cap threaded to fit a bottle operating as a reservoir. The motor and pump system are integrated into a package sleeved inside a housing that then receives in a silo beside the pump and motor the entire reservoir and diffuser system. Simplified control algorithms provide a limited set of buttons that are more intuitive by which a user need only define total time of operation, some level of intensity of scent, and an indication of the comparative size of the space to be conditioned by the diffused scent.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/277,343, filed Jan. 11, 2016. This applicationis a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/297,542, filed Oct. 19, 2016; which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/260,520, filed Apr. 24, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,480,769, issued Nov. 1, 2016; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/854,545, filed Apr. 1, 2013, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,415,130, issued Aug. 16, 2016. This application is aContinuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/373,035,filed Dec. 8, 2016; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/265,820, filed Dec. 10, 2015. All of thefollowing are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entirety.

This application also incorporates by reference: U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/247,755, filed Oct. 8, 2008, issued Feb. 1, 2011, as U.S.Pat. No. 7,878,418, U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/401,480,filed Sep. 12, 2011, issued May 29, 2012, as U.S. Design Pat. No.D660,951; U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/401,517, filed Sep.12, 2011, issued Sep. 4, 2012, as U.S. Design Pat. No. D666,706; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/854,545, filed Apr. 1, 2013; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/260,520, filed Apr. 24, 2014; U.S. Design PatentApplication Ser. No. 29/451,750, filed Apr. 8, 2013, U.S. Design PatentApplication Ser. No. 29/465,421, filed Aug. 28, 213; U.S. Design PatentApplication Ser. No. 29/465,424, filed Aug. 28, 2013; and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/850,789, filed Sep. 10, 2015.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to diffusion of essential oils and, moreparticularly, to novel systems and methods for modularizing diffusersfor mobile applications and simplified operation.

Background Art

Mechanisms exist for altering a closed environment such as a room orhome with humidity. Likewise, mechanisms exist for removing humidity.Electronic and chemical mechanisms for destroying microbial sources ofoffensive scents exist. Meanwhile, sprays, evaporators, wicks, candles,and so forth also exist to vaporize and distribute volatile scents,essential oils, alcohols or other liquids bearing scents, and so forth.These may be introduced into breathing air, an atmosphere of a room, orany other enclosed space.

Heating often destroys, or at least changes, the constitution ofessential oils. Thus, it has limitations. However, the evaporation ratesor atomization rates of essential oils are often insufficient to providea controllable, sustainable, and sufficient amount of an essential oilinto the atmosphere. Thus, wicks having no positive breakup mechanism orno air movement mechanism often prove inadequate.

Meanwhile, mechanisms that seek to copy vaporizers and moistureatomizers often damage surrounding equipment, furniture, and otherenvirons of a space being treated by overspray or settling out ofessential oils. Moreover, the continuing “spitting” by atomizers ofcomparatively larger droplets not only causes damage to finishes onsurrounding surfaces, but wastes a substantial fraction of the essentialoil.

Essential oils are concentrated sources of aromas or scents. Theirextraction from source plants is sometimes complicated, and alwayscomparatively expensive, based on the cost per unit volume of theessential oil. Therefore, colognes, other fragrancing systems, and thelike often use comparatively high tractions of diluents for essentialoils. They also use synthetic oils and artificial scents that may notreplicate the comforting, familiar, and natural essence of essentialoils.

By whatever mode, systems to distribute essential oils often waste anexpensive commodity while damaging surroundings about their atomizers orother distribution systems. Thus, it would be an advance in the art toprovide an apparatus and method for distributing essential oils in assmall particles as possible, preferably vaporized or else suspending inair permanently, while protecting surrounding areas. It would be anadvance to do so while retrieving and recycling for re-atomization ordiffusion any droplets that are larger than those that may be sustainedagainst gravity by fluid dynamic drag or by effectively Brownian motiononce discharged into surrounding air.

It would also be an advance in the art to improve diffusers to make themsmaller, more compact, and more mobile so they may be used in aparticular room, moved from room to room, or even carried in a vehicle.Adding aromas to vehicles has long been the purview of poorlyconstructed and short-lived, absorbent materials suspended by a tetherfrom a mount of a rear view mirror. Effective selection of scent,duration and intensity of scent, and other desirable controls have beeneffectively absent. Moreover, the complexities of controls have likewisebeen a deterrent to rapid and simplified mechanisms for selecting aneffective operational cycle.

It would be an advance in the art to provide an integrated controlmechanism that effectively limits a number of decisions, and perhapseven choices, simplifying and integrating them into parameters that maybe more readily understood selected. In some embodiments, it would be asubstantial benefit to a user to have a system that integratesinformation from a user, translates it into operational characteristicsof a diffuser, and automatically sets the controlling parameters withoutthe common trial and error or unknown consequences typically imposed ona user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, in accordance with the invention as embodiedand broadly described herein, a method and apparatus are disclosed inone embodiment of the present invention as including a reservoir fittedwith an extraction system for drawing out of the reservoir and feedinginto a diffuser nozzle. The nozzle may operate as an eductor. In fact,in certain embodiments an eductor may include an injection nozzlefeeding into a plenum which plenum feeds through a diffuser nozzletoward an ultimate discharge point or port.

In certain embodiments, a system may include separation or driftchambers. For example, an initial separation chamber may actually be anevacuated space or vapor space near the top of a reservoir. Thisprovides the advantage of the reservoir directly relying on contactaccumulation, coalescence by contact between an atomized spray and thecontent of essential oil in the reservoir.

Separator mechanisms may coalesce out comparatively larger droplets asthey either drift into or strike with impact against solid surfaces.Solid surfaces may be naturally occurring walls of conduits, thereservoir, and so forth. However, surfaces may also be made up ofbaffles simply placed within a conduit or path in order to cause changesof direction, and to receive and coalesce overly large droplets.“Larger” means having too much mass, or rather too great amass-to-cross-sectional-area ratio to drift indefinitely (e.g.,permanently) in air. This may also be expressed as avolume-to-surface-area ratio.

A decrease of radius decreases surface area as the square of radius,while decreasing volume as the cube of radius. Accordingly, there comesa point at which the cross sectional area controlling fluid drag ofdroplets in air is sufficiently large yet the mass and volume aresufficiently small, that a particle of such size may remain suspendedindefinitely in air (e.g., permanently or until evaporated or captured).That is, the drag force resisting drift of the droplet downward underthe force of gravity is sufficient to maintain indefinitely the drift ofthat droplet with the movement of air. Stated another way, thegravitational force is so miniscule as to be irrelevant to the time ofdrift. Gravity is unimportant. Drift can proceed effectivelyindefinitely.

Evaporation is an entirely different mechanism. In evaporation,individual molecules of a liquid become individual molecules of vapor.Vapors then abide by Dalton's law of partial pressures and take theirplace with other surrounding vapors including air, constituted primarilyby oxygen and nitrogen. Thus, evaporated portions of an essential oilhave performed well their function of distributing into the surroundingair.

Meanwhile, droplets sufficiently small to remain airborne substantiallyindefinitely, despite gravity, have also achieved their mission todistribute in air. Droplets too large, and therefor too heavy, cannot besustained in surrounding air against drift downward under the force ofgravity. By drifting down these are recaptured. Otherwise they wouldhave become the culprits in waste of essential oils and the damage tosurrounding surfaces on which such droplets land.

Thus, in an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention, ithas been found that various separators have proven effective to provideseveral key factors. For example, separation devices provide time. Thetime of passage or containment of a droplet within a separation chamberprovides opportunity for comparatively larger droplets to drift towardany coalescing surface. By coalescing surface is meant a surface uponwhich overly large droplets may strike and coalesce with one anotherunder the natural surface tension affinity that the essential oil orother material has for itself.

Also, the separation chambers have inlets and outlets offering changesof direction and cross sectional. Moreover, barriers may intercept“comparatively larger” particles by serving as coalescing surfaces.Barriers may also redirect flows, thereby encouraging striking thereofby overly large particles.

Herein we will define overly large particles as particles that arelarger, especially those more than an order of magnitude larger indiameter, than self-sustaining (permanently drifting) droplets. Thus,permanently drifting droplets are defined as droplets of an atomizedliquid that are sufficiently small that they will not drift consistentlydownward, especially the height of a room within a day of eight totwenty four hours.

Thus, the finest particles, defined as permanently drifting particlesare those whose gravitational acceleration under the force of gravity isinsufficient to drift them down before they are swept along with aircurrents. Of interest also is any droplet that will not descend theheight of a room within a day due to the resistance to drifting down bythe fluid drag of the surrounding gases, such as room air or air inanother confined space, such as a vehicle. As a practical matter,droplets larger than these finest or permanently drifting particles aresufficiently small if they will drift with an airflow and leave withventilation air. Often, air leaves a room or an enclosed space of avehicle in a matter of less than an hour.

For example, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and AirConditioning Engineering (ASHRAE) defines standards for roomventilation. Finest particles will necessarily be drifting with the flowof air and will leave a room before they have substantial opportunity todrift to the floor. Moreover, because room air is exchanged sofrequently, typically more than once per hour, particles that are anorder of magnitude larger than the finest particles also fit within thedefinition of comparatively smaller particles. In other words, thesestay aloft for sufficient time to be swept out with the circulation ofroom air or vehicle air.

What is now available is a compact system to accomplish atomization andsubsequent separation of the comparatively larger particles that candrift to the ground in less than an hour or less than an air exchangetime. The size may vary with temperature and with the specific gravity(density compared to the density of water) of a particular essentialoil.

Thus, an apparatus and method in accordance with the invention may relyon a compactly packaged, system for a reservoir, a motor and pumpsystem, and one or more separation mechanisms. They may include driftchambers in the flow path. The separation mechanisms provide drift timeand a smooth flow separation mechanism for comparatively largerparticles to drift toward and coalesce against solid surfaces.

In one embodiment, a jet entrains a certain amount of an essential oilto be atomized. This jet, proceeding out of the jet nozzle or injectionnozzle (which initiates and creates the jet), passes through areceptacle or well. The well is drawing the essential oil out of thereservoir, through a tube into that receptacle.

The jet of air passing through the essential oil entrains a certainportion thereof, or entrains an essential oil at a rate and withsufficient energy to strip droplets from the surface of surroundingessential oil. It ejects those droplets by a jet through a diffusernozzle.

Of course, according to the laws of physics and engineering, dropletsare generated in a variety of sizes. Initially, the largest of thecomparatively larger droplets will not be able to make the turn requiredto reverse direction. Reversal is required in order to pass back outthrough the cap and a channel in the cap that exits the vapor spaceabove the reservoir.

By a reservoir is indicated a supply, or a container for holding asupply, of an aromatic substance, such as an essential oil. By adiffuser is meant a system for atomizing and distributed comparativelysmaller particles, including finest particles as defined hereinabove,and suitably fine particles that are within about an order of magnitudeof the same diameter or radius as finest particles.

A jet is defined as in engineering fluid mechanics. A jet represents aflow of fluid having momentum, and passing through another fluid whichmay have the same or a different constitution. Thus, an air jet may passthrough a surrounding oil. An air jet may pass through surrounding air.A significant feature of a jet is that it passes fluid having momentumthrough another fluid having a different specific momentum. Accordingly,momentum is exchanged between the environment and the jet, causing thejet to grow in size as a “plume.” A plume will decrease in velocity asthe momentum is distributed among more actual material (mass).

An eductor is a specific type of fluid handling mechanism. An eductor isa system in which a jet of a first constitution is injected into anotherfluid, typically of a different constitution. The momentum from thefirst jet is sufficient to cause the surrounding fluid entrained by thejet to continue as a plume of mixed constitution.

Herein, an eductor mechanism is created in which a jet, the source ofthat jet, and the surrounding environment into which the jet is injectedare passed through an aperture in a nozzle. Any portion of the jet thatexceeds the effective diameter or maximum dimension across the nozzlecannot pass therethrough, and thereby must recirculate back to bere-entrained in the jet, or to some other disposition.

A diffuser is in some respects an atomizer, but has the specificobjective of producing finest fluid particles or droplets. Accordingly,a diffuser system includes not just an eductor but separation chambers,sometimes distinct separator structures. All are calculated to removecomparatively larger droplets, leaving only finest droplets and thosewithin an about an order of magnitude thereof. Again, finest droplets orparticles and comparatively larger particles have been definedhereinabove, in terms of their fluid dynamic behaviors. Those behaviorsare defined by well established engineering equations. Therefore, allthose equations are not repeated here. One may refer to textbooks andpapers published on jets, atomization, fluid mechanics, two-phase flow,entrainment, plumes, and the like to obtain the details of the physics,the flow fields, the operational parameters, and governing equations forthese phenomena.

Vapor space in a reservoir is defined as a portion of the volume of areservoir container that contains other than predominantly the liquidfor which the reservoir exists. That is, the vapor region actuallycontains air, a certain amount of the evaporated essential oil,according to Dalton's law of partial pressure in chemistry, and acertain quantity of drifting droplets in transit.

In certain embodiments of an apparatus and method in accordance with theinvention, a reservoir may be fitted with an eductor injecting, througha diffuser nozzle, an entrainment jet containing both air, as thedriving fluid, and atomized particles or droplets of the essential oil.

Mass flow rate is equal to an area times the velocity of materialpassing through that cross sectional area, multiplied by a density ofthe material flowing. Volumetric flow rate is simply a velocity of theflow rate multiplied by the cross sectional area through which that flowpasses.

Whether looking at mass flow rate or volumetric flow rate, area is acontrolling parameter. Increasing area, while keeping the volumetricflow rate constant, requires that the velocity slow down. Accordingly,in order to slow the velocity, area is increased. The result of a changein velocity is to permit more time for comparatively larger droplets todrift out of their entraining airflow toward any adjacent wall, baffle,or the like.

Accordingly, it has been found that diffuser systems or diffusion systemin accordance with the invention, operating with the structures andfluid mechanisms in accordance with the invention, provide threevaluable benefits not found in prior art systems. First, comparativelylarger droplets do not exit the discharge port and drift down uponsurrounding surfaces. Second, this effectively diffuses and controls,without heating, the amount of the essential oil diffused in order toprovide a specific level of scent that is pleasant and effectively asstrong as desired (controlled), without being overly strong.

Third, oil use required for a level of scent within a treated space hasbeen shown to be much more efficient. That is, usage rates of less thanhalf to a third of conventional systems result. Sometimes less thanabout one eighth to one tenth of conventional usage has resulted insystems in accordance with the invention.

In summary, the treated space has the properly controlled amount of theessential oil to provide the aroma and ambiance desired. Compared toprior art systems, whose rate of use is much greater, the essential oilsare more efficiently used. Furniture and other surfaces are not damaged,sticky, or unsightly from comparatively larger particles drifting downonto them.

In various embodiments, a compact, integrated system may be placedwithin any arbitrary base or housing. It has been found that a reservoirmay be fitted into virtually any décor.

Meanwhile, only electrical power crosses to the system from thearbitrary base. This results in pleasant possibilities for design, alongwith compactness, uniformity, and convenience of integration.

In addition, a system in accordance with the invention may integrate theduty cycle parameters controlling the time that a diffuser is on, thetime that it remains off between “on times,” and the intensity or massflow rate of air passing through the diffuser. In one embodiment, asystem and method in accordance with the invention may rely ontranslated, human-understood, simplified parameters such as high or lowintensity, the size of a volume to be treated, such as a small, medium,or large volume, and a total time during which the system will operatein its on-again, off-again, duty cycle.

To this end, a controller may include an integrated circuit thatprovides a user with all the calculations to control times, duty cycles(percentage of total time during which the device is actuallyoperating), and so forth. These may permit one to choose and setuser-understood control objectives appropriate to comply with thecomparative space, intensity, and total duration of time during whichthe system will operate or continue to “cycle.”

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the present invention will become more fullyapparent from the following description and appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are,therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the inventionwill be described with additional specificity and detail through use ofthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded frontal perspective view of oneembodiment of a diffuser system in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the diffuser and reservoirportion thereof;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the base portion thereof,including the power pack and motive (motor and pump) section;

FIG. 5 is a frontal, upper quarter, perspective view of the assembledsystem;

FIG. 6 is a lower quarter perspective view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a left side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a right side elevation view thereof; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram and chart illustrating the controlconfiguration for mapping operation and duty cycles of a system inaccordance with the invention to a simplified scheme more easilyunderstood and controlled by a user with limited numbers and buttons anddecisions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It will be readily understood that the components of the presentinvention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawingsherein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of theembodiments of the system and method of the present invention, asrepresented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention, as claimed, but is merely representative of variousembodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of theinvention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, whereinlike parts are designated by like numerals throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, while also including FIGS. 2 through 4, as well asFIGS. 1 through 13 generally, a system 10 in accordance with theinvention is constituted by a diffuser portion 12 or diffuser 12attachable to a reservoir 14, such as a bottle 14 or the like. Thediffuser 12 and reservoir 14 fit within a base 16. In the illustratedembodiment, the diffuser 12 is sized or defined by a housing 18Likewise, the base 16 may be defined in its outer envelope, whereenvelope represents its outermost boundaries, defining dimensions suchas length, diameter, and an overall volume that is substantiallycylindrical in shape. The housing 20 may include a power port 22. Thepower port 22 receives electrical power from an outside source.Notwithstanding the base 16 may include electrical power by way ofportable batteries, the power port 22 in some embodiments provides forcharging of batteries stored within the base 16. In other embodiments,the power port 22 provides for electricity to drive all the systemswithin the base 16, whether or not batteries are included within.

The button 24 in the illustrated embodiment provides a multi-functionalbutton 24. In one presently contemplated embodiment, the button 24 maybe depressed in order to power up the system 10. Logic built into theoperation underlying the button 24 may also provide for additionalfunctionality by multiple pushes of the button 24. For example, in onecurrently contemplated embodiment, the button 24 when depressed a singletime turns on power of the system 10 at a first level, such as a high orlow volumetric flow rate of air through the system 10. Typically, it maybe preferable to default to powering on at a comparatively low intensityor flow rate of air.

Meanwhile, pushing the button 24 twice engages an alternative mode, suchas a higher volumetric flow rate. Additional modes (volumetric flowrates) may be engaged with additional depressions or pushing of thebutton 24 in comparatively quick succession. By quick succession meansthat mere seconds elapsed between adjacent actuations (pushing) of thebutton 24. Ultimately, a final maximum number of pushes of the button 24will result in turning the system 10 off. For convenience, it has beenfound that a user benefits from simplicity. Accordingly, in oneembodiment a single push activates the system 10, powering it on in acomparatively low volumetric flow rate mode. Two pushes or actuationsresult in a high volumetric flow rate mode. Three pushes result inreturning to an off position.

In yet other embodiments, a first push results in positioning it at alow mode, a second push at any subsequent time results in an operationin a high volumetric flow rate mode. Meanwhile, a third push at any timeresults in an off condition at which no power is provided to operate thesystem 10.

By saying no power, this indicates that no mechanical motive power. Thisdoes not exclude the minor amount of power required for controls. Insome modes, all power may be shut off, in others, control power mayremain on for operating electronics at comparatively low amounts ofcurrent draw.

A button 26 may control a space, area, or other designation of thevolume of air to be treated. Typically, area or volume is a concept thata user can rapidly understand. However, the reality is that the system10 does not actually know or interpret area, but rather adjusts a dutycycle. Thus, by selecting a space size, floor area, room volume, or thelike, a user may simply select small, medium, large, or some otherdesignation.

Again, the button 26 may vary from about one percent to about 100percent duty cycle. Duty cycle may be defined two ways. The simplest wayto understand duty cycle is that a duty cycle is a percentage of totalelapsed time during which the system 10 operates to diffuse an essentialoil or other content used to condition space. Typically, essential oils,other fragrances, mixtures, and so forth may fill the reservoir 14. Thediffuser 12 draws out, atomizes, sorts, and diffuses the smallestpossible particles and vapors from the reservoir 14. The diffuser 12returns comparatively larger droplets to the reservoir 14 for recycling.

In one embodiment, a system 10 may have preprogrammed settings. Forexample, selecting a comparatively small area, when the switch 24 orbutton 24 is set at a low volumetric flow rate mode may result in abouta one percent duty cycle. If the space control button 26 or area button26 is set for a small region, while the volumetric flow rate controlbutton 24 is set at a high rate and mode the duty cycle may be about 5percent. A one percent duty cycle corresponds to about six seconds ofoperation for an elapsed time of six minutes. Similarly, a duty cycle ofabout five percent will result from a run time of about six seconds outof each two minutes. Since the operational times are comparatively smallcompared to elapsed time, whether the total elapsed time or a delay timebetween operations will be used is not a substantial difference. As dutycycles increase, the difference between total elapsed time and a delaytime between operation may be more significant.

In one embodiment, a medium space or area setting with a low volumetricflow rate may be met with about a ten percent duty cycle. If the samearea or volume is handled at a high volumetric flow rate, then about 20percent for a duty cycle is appropriate. Similarly, a large area orvolume setting at a low volumetric flow rate may be served by about a 40percent duty cycle. Meanwhile, the same area or volume at acomparatively high volumetric flow rate may be served by about a 66percent duty cycle. Again, duty cycle is typically defined as thepercentage of operational time out of total elapsed time. However, dutycycle may also be defined by a run time compared to a rest timetherebetween. By using the former, duty cycle will always be a valuebetween zero and 100 as a percent or between zero and one as a fraction.

The total time button 28 represents the total amount of time that a userdesires to leave or permit the system 10 to continue to cycle on andoff. Thus, the button 28 may be considered an occupation time button 28.This button 28 thus protects against the system 10 continuing to operatewhen a room or vehicle has been vacated. Thus, the button 24 allows asetting of some maximum number of minutes or hours that the system 10will continue to cycle. This saves essential oil, power, and wear of thesystem 10. It may also save the environment of a comparatively smallvolume of space from being overwhelmed by scent. For example, a system10 left unattended and operating indefinitely in a vehicle that has beenparked and closed up may result in uncomfortable levels of scent.

Thus, in one embodiment, an individual may depress the button 28multiple times to indicate the number of hours, or fractions of hoursthat the system 10 will remain cycling. Meanwhile, the button 26 mayreflect directly, and select, a user's concept of the volume or floorspace being treated. Meanwhile, the power button 24 may select an “on”condition, in a comparatively higher or lower volumetric flow rate mode.

It has been found that users prefer and are less intimated by a limitednumber of options. Too many options create a mental programming problem.Thus, it has been found that times ranging from about half an hour to anhour, two hours, four hours, and either six or eight hours meet theneeds of most people. As a default, in the illustrated embodiments,beginning with a half hour, times double except for the last time, whichis six hours rather than eight.

Indicators 32 may be represented by lights. For example, on each side ofthe power button 24, or mode button 24, an indicator of high and low.That is, a light of one color may represent a low volumetric flow rate,while a light of another color may represent a high volumetric flowrate. In other embodiments, the words “low” and “high” may be backlit bylights on one side and the other, respectively, of the button 24.Similarly, the indicators 32 above or near the space button 26 or areabutton 26 may indicate by words, colors, backlighting, or both, thesmall, medium, and large settings for the treated space. Likewise, theduration button 28 or total time button 28 may be identified by lights,colors, numbers, or a combination thereof. The setting at which thebutton 28 is placed represents a total elapsed time.

Together, all of the buttons 24, 26, 28, and the indicators 32 mayrepresent a system of controls 30. The controls 30 provide for inputs bya user through the buttons 24, 26, 28, controlling on/off and volumetricflow rate (intensity), space (size) to be treated, and the total time ofcycling operation, respectively. The indicators 32 may be implemented inindividual lights, which may vary by color or vary in color to provideindications thereby. In other embodiments, the indicators 32 may simplybe transparent or translucent areas having words that are backlit bylight emitting diodes (LED), or the like to be discernable to a user.

The system 10 with its three principal subsystems of a diffuser 12, areservoir 14, and a base 16 divides functionalities therebetween. Forexample, the housing 18 of the diffuser 12 represents a comparativelyself-contained system that needs to access the reservoir 14 holdingcontents to be diffused. The diffuser 12 needs to access the base 16 fora supply of pressurized air to operate the diffuser 12.

All these components have need to be packaged or contained. For example,the housing 20 of the base 16 may include a barrel 34 or barrel portion34 that is closed by a cap 36 on the top thereof. The cap 36 may havedistributed on its top 38 or top surface 38 the various controls 30,including the buttons 24, 26, 28, and the indicators 32. Accordingly,the material of the cap 36, and specifically the top 38 thereof, may beformed of a suitable material for transmitting light throughtransparency, translucence, or apertures. In other embodiments, lightsfor indicators 32 may be embedded in the top 38 of the cap 36.

Likewise, the housing 18 of the diffuser 12 may be formed of a barrel 40and a cap 42 enclosing it or closing it. In the illustrated embodiment,the entire diffuser 12 with the reservoir 14 attached may fit through anaperture 44 or into a silo 44 in the base 16. This arrangement providesfor ready access to the reservoir 14 by a user. Thus, no electricalpower need be affected, and no other components need be affected, byremoval and replacement of a reservoir 14 of essential oil or othercontent.

Likewise, the entire diffuser 12 operates, to a certain extent, as a cap12 for the reservoir 14. Because no major effect results to the housing20, a user may actually maintain multiple diffusers 12 as caps onvarious reservoirs 14. Thus, the diffusers 12 may actually serve as capson a quasi-permanent basis for various reservoirs 14 of selected scents.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, while continuing to refer generally toFIGS. 1 through 13, the diffuser 12 may include a fitting 46 or fixture46 responsible to interface between the diffuser 12 and the base 16. Thediffuser 12 relies on the fitting 46 or fixture 46 to provide a seal 47or sealing surface 47 that registers, and connects in fluidcommunication with a source of pressurized air to operate the diffuser12.

Referring to FIG. 3, as well as FIGS. 2 and 4, and FIGS. 1 through 13generally, the fitting 46 may seal against the base 16 by the seal 47,and likewise seal against the nozzle 48 or air nozzle 48. The air nozzle48, in turn may seal against the barrel 40 or a portion of the barrel 40to form an integral portion of an eductor system 50. The eductor system50 is contained within its own housing 52 extending from a wall of thebarrel 50. Meanwhile, a tube 54 or line 54 extending down into thereservoir 14 secures into the eductor system 50 as described in detailin various of the references incorporated herein by reference.

A key 56 in the housing 52 fits into a slot 58 in the fixture 46 orfitting 46. Thus, alignment is provided for improving tolerances andfit. For example, the seal 47 may be shaped, along with the fitting 46,to seal against a curved surface inside the base 16.

The chamber 16 within the barrel 40 receives educted spray ofpressurized air along with entrained content from the reservoir 14. Thedetails of this eduction and atomization are described in great detailin the various other references incorporated hereinabove by reference.

The diffuser 12 may engage a seal 62 between the barrel 40 and the neck64 of the reservoir 14. In this way, a vapor-tight and liquid-tight sealis formed by the seal 62 against the neck 64 of the reservoir 14 and acorresponding surface inside the barrel 40. Each may be threadedappropriately with matching threads to engage by a few quick turns orrotations of the reservoir 14 with respect to the barrel 40.

In some embodiments, a baffle 66 or separator 66 may be used. However,the chamber 60 provides a first separation chamber 60 for separating outcomparatively larger droplets from comparatively smaller droplets of theatomized content from the reservoir 14. Again, this is described indetail hereinabove and in the references incorporated herein byreference. Meanwhile, the baffle 66 or separator 66 provides anadditional change of direction and creates an additional separationchamber or drift chamber within the cap 42. Thus, the general area orvolume of the chamber 60 may operate as one separator, or separationchamber 60. The baffle 66 or separator 66 with its aperture 68 passinginto the region enclosed by the cap 42 operates as a final separationchamber. A micro cyclone 70 formed in two halves 72 a, 72 b, which snaptogether, operates as a third separator 70. Once more, the details andoperation of the micro cyclone 70 are included in the referencesincorporated hereinabove by reference.

A micro cyclone 70 may be formed to conduct flow from the pressurizedair passing through the eductor system 50 into the chamber 60.Typically, the micro cyclone 70 may include a circumferential passagewayextending from about 45 to about 360 degrees of circumference. Theeffect of a micro cyclone 70 is to provide a longer path and a moreconsistent path therethrough subjecting the liquid droplets in anentrained flow of air to centripetal forces. Those forces effectivelydrive comparatively larger droplets having greater mass and a reducedcross-sectional-area-to-mass ratio toward the outside wall (radiallyoutward) of the micro cyclone 70. At that outermost radius of flow inthe micro cyclone 70, droplets coalesce against a solid wall and therebyagglomerated to flow back into the reservoir 14.

Referring to FIG. 4, as well as FIGS. 2 and 3, and FIGS. 1 through 13generally, the base 16 may be constructed to include an aperture 44 orsilo 44 receiving the reservoir 14 and diffuser 12. Likewise, anaperture 74 receives a sleeve 76 for receiving the reservoir 14.Inasmuch as the base 16 charges the diffuser 12 with pressurized air,separation of components permits sealing against intrusion by air,essential oil or other contents of the reservoir 14, or intrusion bypressurized air bearing droplets of liquid.

Accordingly, a sleeve 78 may be formed as a separate component, or maybe molded as an integral and homogeneous portion of a collar 80. Thecollar 80 fits between the barrel 34 of the base 16 and its cap 36.Thus, the collar 80 becomes a platform readily removable from the barrel34. Between the collar 80 and the cap 36, sufficient space provides forvarious substrates 82. The substrates 82 may actually be printed circuitboards 82 in some instances. Typically, the substrates 82 providemounting surfaces for electrical and electronic components correspondingto the controls 30. Thus, lights, LED's, buttons, micro switches,circuits, and the like may be built on the substrates 82.

In some embodiments, power packs 84 may be integrated, but need not be.They may include racks 86 and connectors 88 for electrically connectingbatteries 90 to one another and to the electronics on the substrates 82.

Wiring and circuitry may be included as appropriate to connect powerfrom the batteries 90 to various controls and switches. In oneembodiment, micro switches 92 may actually be positioned to be actuatedby the buttons 24, 26, 28 on the top 38 of the cap 36.

Similarly, a substrate 82, exemplified by the substrates 82 a, 82 b, 8 cmay include various components. A jack 94 or socket 94 may receive aplug of some appropriate type for transferring electrical power insteadof using power packs 84, or into the power packs 84, and specifically tothe batteries 90 for recharging.

A pump module 100 may include a motor portion 112 and a pump portion114. The motor 112 uses power from the power pack 84 or directly from aline into the power port and jack 94. In fact, a power pack 84 may bedispensed with in order to reduce cost. In such an embodiment, the powerport 22 receives a plug into the jack 94 or socket 94 that powers thesystem 10 from some other power supply such as A/D or A-to-D converter.Similarly, the system 10 may be powered by a line originating in avehicle from a power source, such as a socket commonly available for alighter, or other electrical devices, including USB sockets, and thelike.

The pump module 100 may be secured in the barrel 78 by a retainer 96.Meanwhile, seals 98 a, 98 b may seal the pump module 100 within thesleeve 78. In this way, air may pass to the fitting 116 or tube 116 andthereby to the substrate 82 b. The substrate 82 b may be a portion of awall, or may simply be positioned near a wall of the sleeve 76containing the reservoir 14. Thus, when the diffuser 12 is set into theaperture 44 or silo 44 of the base 16, the seal 47 on the fitting 46slides into a sealing engagement with the substrate 82 b.

Meanwhile, an aperture 118 in a substrate 82 b connects to a tube 116 orfitting 116, which may be extended between the tube 116 by flexibletubing connecting to the outlet 120 of the pump portion 114 of the pumpmodule 100. In the references incorporated herein by reference, variousembodiments of flow paths are discussed for drawing air over the motormodule 112 or motor portion 112 and into the pump portion 114, therebycooling the motor 112 and the overall pump module 100 by the air thatwill eventually be pushed through the outlet 120 and into the nozzle 48.

The pump module 100 may be juxtaposed to an aperture 102 in the collar80. The aperture 102 receives the sleeve 76 or container 76 thatreceives the reservoir 14 and diffuser 12. However, the sleeve 78 mayactually be molded as an integral and homogeneous part of the collar 80,thereby containing the pump module 100. In fact, an O-ring seal may sealthe module 100 against the walls of the sleeve 78.

Meanwhile, a foot 104 may support the sleeve 78. In certain embodiments,the foot 104 may be a tubular passage 104 that fits into or against anaperture 106 in the floor 110 of the housing 20 of the base 16. Thus,the foot 104 may actually receive air from outside the system 10,through an aperture 106. To effect this, the shape, texture, or variousprojections on the underside of the floor 110 may be essential oreffective to provide space for drawing air through an aperture 106 andfoot 104 into the sleeve 78.

Thus, the air passed into the sleeve 78 may pass around the motorportion 112 and into the pump portion 114 to eventually be pressurized.It may be injected through the outlet 120 into the flexible tubingconnected to the tube 116, feeding pressurized air through the aperture118 and thence through the seal 47 and fixture 46 to feed the nozzle 48.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 12, the assembled system 10 is illustratedwith its components largely contained with its outer envelope. Theresult is a system 10 that fits within a cup holder of a vehicle, sitscomfortably on a shelf, may be moved or even carried with an individual,for use in various different spaces during a day.

For example, a system 10 in accordance with the invention may transportin a bag, box, or other container to be used at home, in a vehicle, andin an office. Power may be provided through the power port 22 through anelectrical connection 94 directly to a motor portion 112, or by way of apower pack 84 containing batteries 90.

Referring to FIG. 5, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1through 13, the upper perspective view illustrates how the exit aperture13 on the cap 42 of a diffuser 12 is the only component or constituentthat needs to have access to the outer environment. Nevertheless, byproviding a portion of the barrel 40 extending above the top 38 of thecap 36, a user may easily grip the diffuser 12 in order to replace areservoir 14 or refill the reservoir 14.

Referring to FIG. 6, one will note that the apertures 106 may be set inpositions to register with the foot 104 of the barrel 78, or the foot104 may simply space the barrel 78 above the floor 110. The apertures106 may both feed air into the region around the foot 104, and pass thatair on into the barrel 78 by any suitable route. In fact, in someembodiments, air may actually be drawn into the barrel 78 by way ofpassage through the entire volume of the barrel 34 of the base 16.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS.1 through 13, the top plan view of FIG. 7 illustrates a position of thecap 42 of the housing 18 corresponding to the diffuser 12. Similarly,the top 38 of the cap 36 of the housing 20 corresponding to the base 16displays the control systems 30 including the buttons 24, 26, 28 andindicators 32. The shapes and sizes of the buttons 24, 26, 28 areselected primarily for convenience.

For example, the power button 24 that controls volumetric flow rate aswell is centered to be collinear with a diameter through the center ofthe cap 42. Meanwhile, the button 26 on the left is thus easilyaccessible through most of a quarter of the circumference, and by simplytouching somewhere near the left side of center. Similarly, the durationbutton 28 may be accessed just to the right of the power button 24.Thus, one advantage of the side elevation of the cap 42 above the top 38of the cap 36 of the housing 20 about the base 16 is that it serves toorient a user without having to focus, nor indeed even see the buttons26, 28.

Of course the indicators 32 may be visible on the top 38, or may bedistributed somewhere around a side of the cap 36. Nevertheless, thishas been found suitable, particularly when a user is above the system10. That is true more particularly when the system 10 is installed in acup holder in a vehicle. The indicators 32 are easily visible, and mayinclude readable words indicating the status of the volumetric flow rateaccording to the power button 24. This is likewise so for the volume oramount of space conditioned, as set by the space button 26, and thetotal duration of operations before complete shut down, as set by thebutton 28.

Referring to FIGS. 10 through 12, one can see that the housing 18 of thediffuser 12 is offset from center. In the front elevation view of FIG. 9and the rear elevation of FIG. 10, the system 10 appears substantiallysymmetric, except for the power port 22 on the back half of the cap 36.In contrast, the left and right views, respectively, of FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate the asymmetry of the diffuser 12 and its housing 18. Someembodiments may be permissible that would be completely symmetric in allthe foregoing four views. However, with a compact pump assembly 100, theoffset may be necessary in order to accommodate both the pump assembly100 and the diffuser 12 in its housing 18, all within the housing 20 ofthe base 16.

Referring to FIG. 13, several variables, mathematically speaking arecontrollable in order to provide a desired result. As a practicalmatter, however, a user would have to work through a rather complexprocess of either calculation and instruction, or alternatively, oftrial and error. That is, determining what duty cycle the system 10should operate on is partly a matter of taste, but also a matter ofpracticality. The amount of space or volume to be conditioned by adiffuser 12 will necessarily effect how much diffusion time of the totaltime the system 10 should operate. In the chart of FIG. 13 one can see asystem of settings. The settings correspond to the buttons 24, 26, 28.

Referring to FIG. 13, while continuing to refer generally to FIGS. 1through 13, a chart 160 illustrates settings for an intensity, orvolumetric flow rate value 162, aligned beside various values of a spacemode 164. The volumetric flow rate or intensity may be set at multiplelevels. However, for purposes of illustration, here only a low (L) and ahigh (H) are shown Likewise, for space mode, a volume or room size isidentified by small (S), medium (M), and large (L) or high (H). Oneembodiment for a duty cycle 166 is illustrated.

Each of these duty cycles 166 or values of duty cycle 166 may correspondto any ratio of time in an “on” condition to total elapsed time desired.However, it has been found that the values of “on” time 168 to totalelapsed time 170 are well served at the values illustrated. Accordingly,a duty cycle ranges from about one percent to about 66 percent of totalelapsed time.

Finally, the duration portion 170 of the chart 160 identifies settings172 and corresponding duration times 174. It has been found that a rangeof from about half an hour to about six hours will provide adequateoptions. Even in a work environment, where a user may remain for eighthours, a user may elect to only operate a system 10 for six hours,allowing a dissipation of the intensity of conditioned air over the lasthours of the day.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its purposes, functions, structures, or operationalcharacteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of theinvention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather thanby the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within theirscope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:
 1. A method of separating atomized droplets of a liquid, themethod comprising: educting an essential oil from a reservoir using astream of air; spraying the essential oil into a chamber as adistribution of droplets suspended in a flow of the air; passing thedroplets through a separator channel having walls defining an aspectratio of length-to-effective-diameter greater than 10; removingcomparatively larger droplets from the distribution by lateral migrationthereof across the flow to the walls.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising passing the flow vertically along the separator channel. 3.The method of claim 2, further comprising passing the flow upward alongthe separator channels wherein the walls form an annulus therebetween.4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a material forthe walls having a surface tension with the droplets effective to createan attractive force attracting the droplets to adhere to the walls. 5.The method of claim 4 further comprising forming a coalesced liquid bycoalescing the comparatively large droplets against the walls, whereinthe annulus is selected to have one of a uniform thickness in a radialdirection and a non-uniform thickness in a radial direction.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising draining the coalesced liquidtoward the reservoir.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:providing a drive system effective to pressurize the stream of air;providing the walls to form an annulus therebetween enclosing the drivesystem; providing a first cooling channel between the drive system andthe walls; cooling the drive system by drawing the stream of air intothe drive system by way of the first cooling channel; and thermallyisolating the drive system by passing the stream between the walls. 8.The method of claim 7, further comprising limiting transfer of soundaway from the drive system by at least one of a sound absorptionmaterial, the first cooling channel, and the separator channel.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising controlling the duty cycle of thedrive system based on a size of space to be conditioned by the dropletsand an intensity of conditioning of the space, both selected by a userand controlled by the drive system duty cycle, where duty cycle isrepresented by a relationship between a first time span in which thedrive system operates and a second time span selected from total elapsedtime and time spent by the drive system not operating.
 10. A method ofdelivering atomized droplets of a liquid, the method comprising:educting an essential oil from a reservoir using a stream of air;spraying the essential oil into a chamber as a distribution of dropletssuspended in a flow of the air; passing the droplets through a separatorchannel having walls defining an aspect ratio oflength-to-effective-diameter greater than 10; removing comparativelylarger droplets from the distribution by lateral migration thereofacross the flow to the walls while passing the flow vertically upward inthe separator channel, wherein a material for the walls has a surfacetension with the droplets effective to create an attractive forceattracting the droplets to the walls and coalescing into a coalescedliquid the comparatively large droplets contacting the walls; anddraining the coalesced liquid toward the reservoir.
 11. An apparatuscomprising: a drive system effective to pressurize a stream of air;walls, comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, concentric with oneanother, and forming an annular region about the drive system and afirst cooling channel between the drive system and the walls; a housingincorporating the outer wall; a sleeve incorporating the inner wall; areservoir, containing a liquid and connected in fluid communication withthe housing along a first, liquid, path, and a second, vapor, path; aneductor connected in fluid communication with the reservoir, the eductorspraying the stream of air and droplets educted from the liquid towardthe reservoir; and a separator channel formed between at least a portionof the outer wall and inner wall and effective to separate the dropletsinto first droplets sufficiently small to remain entrained in the streamupon exiting from the apparatus and second droplets sufficiently largeto be coalesced against the walls as a coalesced liquid and therebyremaining captured by the apparatus.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,further comprising a housing cap enclosing the outer wall to form thehousing.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sleeve is provided asleeve cap isolating the drive system from the separator channel. 14.The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inner wall and the drive define acooling channel cooling the drive system by passing the stream aroundthe drive system upon entry into the apparatus.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 11, further comprising: a controller operably disposed in thehousing cap and comprising buttons controlling a duty cycle of the drivesystem, wherein duty cycle represents a relationship between a durationof continual operation and at least one of total elapsed time and aduration of continual non-operation following the continual operation.16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: at least one driftchamber operably connected in fluid communication, in series, with theseparator channel to remove a portion of the second droplets from thestream.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the eductor is structuredand located to discharge the stream vertically.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 18, wherein the eductor is oriented to discharge the stream towardthe liquid in the reservoir.
 20. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising a controller operably connected to the drive system tocontrol the duty cycle of the drive system based on a size of space tobe conditioned by the droplets and an intensity of conditioning of thespace, both selected by a user and controlled by the drive system dutycycle, where duty cycle is represented by a relationship between a firsttime span in which the drive system operates and a second time spanselected from total elapsed time and time spent by the drive system notoperating.